6.6 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Russia-Mongolia Border

The United States Geographical Survey (USGS) is reporting that a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck a sparsely populated region in southeastern Russia on Tuesday.

According to the USGS, the epicenter of the quake, which hit at 10:21 am EST, was 4.2 miles deep and about 60 miles east of Kyzyl, Russia and 210 miles northeast of Ulaangom, Mongolia.

Although there were no reports of injuries or damage, Russian news agencies quoted Emergencies Minister Sergey Shoygu as saying miners in the nearby coal-producing territories of Kemerovo and Khakassia were being evacuated following the temblor.

“Everything is all right. Our dispatchers work round the clock and they did not receive any calls on any destruction,” a spokesman for the regional Emergencies Ministrytold state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

The spokesman added that as a precaution, local residents were being warned about the possibility of aftershocks and were advised to leave their homes.

Additionally, a spokesperson for MRSK Siberia, the largest electricity distribution company in the region, says no interruptions have been reported following the earthquake.

via Washington Post
Image: CNN News